Process and apparatus for forming hame bodies



J. M. GLASER Nov. 10, 1931.

Filed Oct. 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 10, 1931.

J. M. GLASER 1,831,240

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HAME BODIES Filed Oct. 15, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES. Tamer-me JOHN m.GLASER, or BUFFALO, NEW YonK, nssrono'a TO U.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK s. HAME COMPANY, 01'

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HAME BODIES Application filed October15, 1927. Serial No. 226,381;

This invention relates to processes and mechanisms for producing tubularhames of the kind made without a filler or insert and which have theside thereof which bears against the usual collar flattened toproduceabctter distribution of the load on the animal.

It is well known that a hame made from a piece of metal tubing has theadvantages of great strength and durability, but the manutacture ofawell shaped tubular hame without 'a filler-has presentedeertaindifiiculties.

Such tubular hames as have been made either have not been shaped toproperly fit the .col-

1 lat of a draft animal or else they have been provided with inserts orfillers, which add materially to the expense of the hame. In order toprovide for a distribution of the load on the animal it is necessary tohave an exgo tended flat bearing surface on the hame which bears againstthe corresponding surface on the collar. Hames with such extended fiatbearing surfaces have less tendency to cut into or deform the usualcollar, which deforcollar and in an uneven distribution of the draft onthe shoulders of the animal. In making tubular hames without-inserts rfillers, the correct flattening of a side of a hame could only be doneby a series of successive die operations, and any attempts heretoforemade to flatten a side of a hollow tubular hame in one operationresulted in the formation of a concavity in the flattened side whichgreatly reduced the strength of the hame due to excessive change inshape of the metal. Consequently, to avoid excessive weakening of theQis a; mation results in a rapid wearing out of the prevent theconcaving ofthe metal on the flattened side of the hame; also to providea die for flattening a side of a hollow tubular hame whichdie 18provided with a concavity therein extending lengthwise of the middleportion of the flattened side of the hame and which prevents theconcaving of the flattened side of the hame; also to provide a methodand apparatus bymeans of which the holes usually required in a hame bodymay be provided; also to improve methods of and apparatus for producingtubular 'hames in other respects hereinafter specified.

} In the accompanyingdrawin s,

Fig. l is a longitudinal view 0 a tubefrom which a hame embodying thisintention may be made.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the tube after the same has been subjectedto a ,swaging operation.

I 3 and 4: are respectively face views of the lower and upper dies bymeans of.

which a tapered tube such as shown in Fig.

ressed while cold, in a single operation into a tube having a flattenedside.

Fig. .5- is a transverse, sectional View of the two dies shown in Figs.3 and 4, showing the same inoperative relation to each other and showinga swaged tube such as illustrated in Fig. 2 positioned on the lower die.Fig. 6 is a View similar to F ig. '5 showing the position of the diesafter the completio of the flattening. operation.

Figs. 7 and Sare transverse, sectional views of a pair of dies used forpunching holes in the hame bodies, Fig. 7 showing the dies separated andFig. 8' showing the positions of thedies at the end of the punchingoperation. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal view of a finished hame body. v

A, Fig. 1 represents a length of metal tubing from which the bodies ofthe hames are made. This. tubing may be either of the seamless type ormay have a suitably. welded elongation of the metal during the firststep in the process of making hame bodies, which consists in subjectingboth end portions of the tubes to the action of a swaging machine.During this swaging, which may be carried out in any suitable or desiredswaging machine, the tubes are tapered so that the tube assumes a formapproximately as shown at B in Fig. 2, the upper end being given agradual taper extending approximately from the middle portion of thetube to the upper end, while the other end is more abruptly tapered, thetaper ending from considerably below the middle portion of the tube tothe lower end. The swaging of the ends of the tube causes the tube tobecome somewhat elongated and also causes the metal near the endportions of the tube to be considerably increased in thickness, theincrease in thickness being more or less proportional to the de creaseinthe outside diameter of the tube.

The tube is then ready for the operation of flattening a side thereof.This operation is accomplished by means of a pair of dies illustrated inFigs. 3 to 6 inclusive. The lower die G is provided with a recess D inthe upper surface thereof which recess corresponds approximately to thecontour of the curved side of the hame. The upper die E is provided witha. substantially flat lower surface F and is adapted to press againstthe upper surface of the tube B while contained in the recess D of thelower die. It has been found by experience that whenever attempts aremade to obtain a flat surface on a side of a hollow tubular hame body bycompressing a side of the hame with a flat die in a single operation,the surface of the tube which is subjected to the pressure by the flatdie buckles inwardly and thus forms a concavity on the outer surface ofthe tube. This inward buckling is objectionable, in the first place,because it brings about an excessive and unnecessary deformation of themetal of the tube and thus weakens the metal at the portion which isbuckled. Furthermore a hame with a concavity or depression in itsflattened side does not cooperate properly with the collar of the draftanimal. In order toovercome this objectionable concaving or inwardbuckling of the metal of the tube, I provide the lower flat face F ofthe upper die with a shallow recess or depression G. This depressionextends substantially centrally of the hame and lengthwise thereof andterminates at slight distances from the ends of the hame body. I havefound that this slight depression in the flat face of the upper dieentirely prevents the tendency of the metal of -the hame tube B fromcollapsing or concaving inwardly. The depression G in the upper die isso shallow that the metal of the hame tube does not readily flow intothe depression during the flattening operation, so

" that theflattened side of the hame body is either entirely flat orelse only an extremely slight ridge or projection is formed on theflattened surface of the hame, which does not in any way interfere withthe distribution of pressure from the surface of the hame to the collarof the draft animal. Bythe use of a depression in the die the tube canbe formed, while cold, from the shape shown in Fig. 5 into a tube Bshown in Fig. 6 in a single operation, whereas heretofore flat surfacesof this kind could only be produced by means of a series of dies andsometimesreheating the tube between die operations was also necessary.Asthe result of this construction of the upper die, only the initialpressure on the tube tending to flatten av side thereof is exerted onthemiddle portion of the tube while the same is in engagement in thegroove or recess G, and consequently after the initial downward movementof the die in contact with the-tube, further pressure upon the tube isexerted by the edges of the recess at some distance from the centralportion of the tube,

thus relieving the longitudinal central portion of the tube of thepressure which would cause collapsing or concaving of this centralportion if an entirely flat'die were used. I have found that when usingmy improved process of flattening a side of a tube, the annealing orheat treating of the tube, during or after the swaging operation, can beentirely dispensed with, without in any way decreasing the strength ofthe hames. If a flat. die were used for flattening a side of a tube, theadditional deflection of the metal due to the inward buckling orconcaving of the metal would greatly decrease the strength of hamebodies made without annealing.

It hasheretofore been found impractical in the manufacture of tubularhames without filler or spacing members therein, to punch holes in thebody portions of the hames to which the draft attachments, rein ringsand other parts of the hame are attached. I have found, however, thatbymaking a hame with a flat side of considerable area, holes can bepunched through'the body portion of the hame adjacent to the flat sideand in a direction substantially parallel thereto because of theresistance to bending or deformation of the hame afforded by the flatside. The punching of these holes may be done in any suitable or desiredmanner, for example, by means of the dies shown in Figs. 7 and 8 inwhich H represents a holder which is formed to receive a pair of hames.L represents the punching dies which are arranged to punch a hole intothe hame in close proximity to the flat side thereof.

The holder, in the particular construction illustrated, includes'a pairof fixed upright supports 10 having substantially flat faces againstwhich the flattenedfaces of the hame body may rest, and movable holdingmembers 11 having concave faces 12 adapted to p 15 in any holder H,

receive the correspondingly curved convex faces of the opposite sides ofthe hamebody. These slidable members 11 are mounted on guide rods 14 andnormally held in the position shown in Fig. 7 by means of springs 15 ofany' suitable or desired form. The movable members 11 may be movedtoward the fixed members 10 against the action of the springs suitableor desired manner, for example, by means of a wedge member 16 which ismounted on the holder 17 for the upper dies L. This wedge is adapted tocooperate with acorresponding wedge face 18 of the slidable members 11in such a manner that when the holders 17 for the upper dies descend,thewedge member 16 first moves the movable members 11 into their holdingpositions shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the upper dies L punch the hamebodies B held in the holder H. Upon the return movement of the punchingdies, these dies L are completely withdrawn from the hame bodies beforethe wedge member 16 moves out of engagement with corresponding faces ofthe members 11, so that the because of the concave faces 12 in themovable membersll, also serves to strip the hame bodies from thepunching dies. t

will be noted that in this holder the change of shape of the hame bodyis prevented by the concave face 12 and the flat face of the fixedmembers 10 of the holder so that there. is no tendency of either ofthese two faces of the hame bodies to buckle or to become deformedbecause of the punching operation.

w It will be obvious, however, that if the flattened side of the hamebodies were concave or buckled inwardly as wouldbe the case if theflattening of the sides. of the hame bodies were effected by means of ahat die, then the flat faces-of the parts 10- of the holder would notbrace these, inwardly buckled sides and consequently downward pressureof the punches .L would tend to increase the inward buckling of theflattened side walls, so that the flat faces of the fixed members 10would not in any way reinforce the flat sides of the hame bodies againstfurther buckling inwardly. Consequently my improved process offlattening the sides of the hame bodies makes possible the operation ofpunching holes in the hame bodies without imparting any weaknessthereto, which operation is obviously very much less expensive than thedrilling of such holes. The tubular hame bodies are preferably subjectedto the action of the usual bending dies before the holes are punchedtherein, which dies bend the opposite ends of the tapered tubes toproduce the shapes de. ired, for example, as in cheated at M in Fig. 9.

In hames of this kind in which the end por tions have been materiallyreduced in size by the swaging process, the thickness ofthe metal in theend walls is correspondingly in creased and consequently holes can bepunched into the metal near the ends thereof because of the thickness ofthe metal therein." Consequently holes can be punched in the ends of thehames as well as in the flattened portions thereof, so thattherelatively expen- 5 sive drilling operationfcan be entirely dispensedwith. 1 1

By the uscof my improved process, all of the va'rioussteps described canbe carried out without either heating of the tubes or hame The hamedescribed can be made as large as is necessary or ClGSlI.

able to produce a uniform pressure on the collar of'the draft animal toavoid deformation of the collar. tur-al advantages resulting from theuse of my improved process and apparatus, the hame bodies are producedat a cost lower than In addition toithe struc-- that of many types ofhames heretofore made.

- I claim as my invention I I 1 In a process of making hollow, tubularhame bodies, the step of flattening a side of a hame body by applyingpressure initially to the longitudinal, middle portion of the part ofthe hame body to befiattened and then pressing the opposite'sides;offsaid..middle portion toward the interior of the hame body in advanceof said middlep'ortion.

2. In a process of making hame bodies without fillers, the step offia-ttening a side of the hame bodyby applying pressure first to thelongitudinal middle portion of the part of the hame body to beflattenedand then at opposite sides of said middle portion to a greater extentthan on said middle portion to prevent inward buckling of said middleportion.

3. The process of making hollow tubular hame bodies without fillers,consisting of subjecting a cylindrical tube to a swaging action fortapering the ends. thereof, and then flattening apart of aiside'of saidhame body by first engaging the middle portion of the part tobeflattened by aconcave portion of a. die and then engaging the part to beflattened at opposite sides of said longitudinal. middle portion by aflat portion of the die.

4. Thevprocess of making hollow tubular r hame bodies wlthoutfillers,consisting of subjecting a cylindrical tube to a swaging action for.tapering the ends thereof, and then,

hollow, tubular ice iio

while the metal is in the same physical condi- 7 tion as at theconclusion of the swaging, flattening a part of the side of the hamebodyby first applying pressure to the longitudinal middle portion of a partof a hame body and then at opposite sides ofgsaid middle portion.

5. The process of maki-n'ghollow, tubular hame bodies, which consists offlattening a part of a side of the hame body by pressing a side thereofinwardly and by pressing the middle portion of the side inwardly to aless extent than adjacent portions so that said middle portion extendsslightly outwardly beyond adjacent portions of the flattened part, andthen punching holes'into an edge portion of the hame body adjacent tosaid flat side while the opposite sides of said hame body are heldagainst outward flexing.

6. The process of making hollow, tubular hame bodies, consisting ofsubjecting a cylin-v drical tube to a swaging action for tapering theends thereof, flattening a part of the side of the hame body by pressingthe same inwardly and pressing the middle portion of said side inwardlyto a less extent than adjacent portions so that said middle portion ofsaid side extends slightly outwardly beyond adjacent portions of theflattened part, and then punching holes into said hame adjacent to saidflattened part while the opposite sides of the hame are held againstoutward deflection. v

7. The process of making hollow, tubular hame bodies, consisting ofsubjecting a cylindrical tube to a swaging action for tapering the endsthereof and increasing the thickness of the metal in said ends,flattening a side of the hame body by pressing portions of said sideinwardly and by pressing the longitudinal middle portion of said sideinwardly to a less extent to permit the same to project slightlyoutwardly beyond adjacent portions of said flattened side, and thenpunching holes through said hame adjacent to said flattened sideiand ina direction substantially parallel thereto and through said ends ofincreased thickness while the opposite sides of the hame are heldagainst outward deflection.

8. A mechanism for shaping a hollow tubular member to flatten a sidethereof, including a concaved die adapted to receive the tubular member,and a die having a substantially flat face adapted to engage saidtubular member while confined in said concaved die, said flat die havinga longitudinal recess formed intermediate of the sides of said flat faceinto which the metal of the central portion of the tubular member entersand which prevents the inwardvbucklingof the central portion of theflattened sid r 9. A mechanism for shaping a tubular member to flatten aside thereof, including a die provided with a concave portion forholding said tubular member, and a die having a substantially flat faceadapted to engage said tubular member while confined in said concaveportion and having a shallow recess intermediate of the sides of saidflat face and cooperating with the central portion of the side to beflattened of the tubular member to prevent inward buckling of saidportion of said tubular member.

10. A mechanism for shaping the intermediate portion of a tapered,tubular member to form said member with a convex side and a flattenedside including a die having a concave portion adapted to receive saidtubular member, said concave portion being shaped in accordance with theshape desired on said convex side, and a second die for forming the flatside of said tubular body while confined 1n saidother die and having aflat surface and a recess arranged therein intermediate of the edges ofsaid flat surface and extending substantially centrally of the side tobe flattened, the edges of said recess engaging said tubular memberafter the initial movement of said second die relatively to said firstdie, to prevent inward buckling of the flattened side of said tubularmember.

11. A process of flattening a side of a hollow tubular metal body,including the steps of first applying pressure to and pressing inwardlythe longitudinal middle portion of the part to be flattened, thenapplying pressure simultaneously to said part at opposite sides of saidmiddle portion and said middle portion to press said part inwardly,pressure being applied to said sides to press the same toward theinterior ofthe hame body in advance of said middle portion.

12. A process of flattening a side of a hollow tubular metal body,including the steps of first pressing inwardly the longitudinal middleportion of the part to be flattened, then applying pressuresimultaneously to said middle portion and to portions at opposite sidesof said middle portion, and continuing to press said opposite sidesinwardly in advance of said middle portion.

13. A process of flattening a side of a hollow tubular metal body,including the steps of first pressing inwardly the longitudinal middleportion of the part to be flattened, and then applying pressure toportions at opposite sides of said middle portion and pressing saidopposite side portions inwardly slightly in advance of said middleportion.

14., A die for forming a flattened side on a tubular member, said diehaving a substant ally flat face provided with a shallow recessintermediate of the sides of said flat face in the portion thereofadapted to engage the longitudinal central portion of the part of thetubular member to be flattened.

JOHN M. GLASER.

